What do you say about prayer beads?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

No doubt, counting the numbers of Tasbeeh (glorification) of Allah by hand is better than using beads. It is confirmed that the Prophet used to glorify Allah by counting with his hand. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amar ibn al-'Aas said: “I have seen the Prophet using his hand to glorify Allah.” [Ibn Qudamah, a sub narrator, said, with his right hand] [Abu Dawood]

The Prophet also said: “O believing women! Be regular in remembering Allah by saying لا إله إلا الله (There is None worthy of worship but Allah) سبحان الله (Glory be to Allah) and saying other words of Praise to Allah; do not neglect them, otherwise you will forget about the Mercy of Allah. You should count them on your fingertips, for they (the fingers) will be questioned and asked to speak. ” [Ahmad, Abu Daawood, at-Tirmithi and al-Haakim]

Imam an-Nawawi and al-Haakim considered its chain of narrators as Hassan.

Imam ash-Shawkaani said: 'The above Hadeeth proves that counting the Tasbeeh of Allah by fingers is better than counting it by beads or pebbles.”

The fingers will testify on the Day of Judgment what the person had done of good or evil.

Ibn Taymiyyah said: “Counting the Tasbeeh by hand is Sunnah... though counting it by pebbles or seeds is permissible since some companions of the Prophet used to do so.”

Once the Prophet saw one of his wives counting the Tasbeeh using pebbles, he approved it. The same practice is reported by Abu Hurayrah .

As for using beads for Tasbeeh, some scholars disagree with it while some others agree with it. They say if one uses it with good intention, then it is good. Using it without any need or exposing it to people, such as hanging it around one’s neck or wrapping it around one's hand as a bracelet and the like, then this practice is either to show off before people, which is forbidden, or imitating such people, which is at least disliked.

However, some scholars approve making Tasbeeh by beads as pebbles and seeds. Imam ash-Shawkani said: 'There are other two Ahadeeth that prove the permissibility of counting the numbers of Tasbeeh by seeds and pebbles; beads are also the same since there is no difference between them. The Prophet approved the two women counting on pebbles and taught them something excellent; guiding to what is better is not contradictory to what is permissible.” Then, Imam ash-Shawkani also quoted from many companions of the Prophet the practice of counting the Tasbeeh with seeds and pebbles.” [Nail al-Awtaar]

The two Ahadeeth referred to by ash-Shawkani are the following:

1) Sa'd said that he and the Prophet visited a woman in front of whom were some date-stones or pebbles which she was using as a beads to glorify Allah. He (the Prophet) said: “I tell you something which would be easier (or more excellent) for you than that. He said (it consisted of saying): “Shall I not inform you of what is easier or better than this for you?” You should say: 'Subhan-Allahi 'adada ma khalaqa fis-sama', wa subhan-Allahi 'adada ma khalaqa fil-ardi, wa subhan-Allahi 'adada ma baina dhalika, wa subhan-Allahi 'adada ma Huwa Khaliqun, wallahu Akbaru mithla dhalika, wal-hamdu lillahi mithla dhalika, wa la ilaha illallahu mithla dhalika, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahi mithla dhalika (Subhan-Allah, equal to the number of what He created in the heaven; and Subhan-Allah, equal to the number of His creatures in the earth; and Subhan-Allah, equal to the number in between them; and Subhan-Allah equal to the number of those He will create).' Then say: 'Allahu Akbar' (Allah is Greatest) in the same way. Then say: 'Al-hamdu lillah' (praise be to Allah) in the same way. Then say: 'La ilaha illallah' (there is None worthy of worship but Allah) in the same way. Then say: 'La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah' (there is no change of a condition nor power except by Allah) in the same manner.” [At-Tirmithi]

2) Safiyyah said: “The Prophet visited me while four thousand seeds were before me, I was using them for Tasbeeh. He asked, 'Did you make Tasbeeh by these'? 'Do you like to know more excellent words than what you had glorified?' She said: 'Please teach me.'; then He said: 'Say “سبحان الله عدد خلقه” (Glorify be to Allah as many times as the number of that which he has created).” [At-Tirmithi]

However, some scholars did not permit doing so for the practice of Ibn Masood; once he passed by some persons in the mosque who were in group and one of them was asking them to say 'Subhanallah' ten times, and then ten times 'La Ilaha Illa Allah', Abdullah said to them 'are you more guided than the companions of the Prophet or more deviant from them?' No doubt, this is an innovation.”

Once he was informed about some persons that they are counting Tasbeeh by pebbles in a mosque in al-Kufah. He went to them, scolded them, and threw the pebbles at them until they left and said: “You have introduced an innovation. Are you more excellent than the companions of the Prophet Muhammad .” [ash-Shaatibi]

The preponderant opinion –Allah knows best –is that making Tasbeeh by beads is permissible for the one who needs it according to the above Hadeeth. Since the Prophet approved making Tasbeeh with pebbles, beads are also the same.

The practice of Ibn Mas’ood does not contradict the above permissibility since he might had done so for their gathering, or due to the command of one of them, or may be for other reasons. Above all the practice of a companion cannot stand against a Hadeeth.

However, making the Tasbeeh by hand is more desirable.

Allah knows best.